Emma Hayes, the esteemed football manager, has predicted that the record for most goals in a single World Cup—13 by Just Fontaine in 1958—could be broken this summer, driven by a generation of elite forwards who are pushing each other to new heights.
Ageless wonders: Messi, Ronaldo, and the new longevity
Hayes believes that modern training, nutrition, and recovery methods are enabling strikers to excel into their 40s. She cited Lionel Messi (39), Cristiano Ronaldo (41), and Robert Lewandowski (37) as prime examples. "A lot of the important things are in the brain rather than in the engine," she said, emphasizing that positioning, instinct, and timing are key. "They are all looking after their bodies and showing what can be done if you take care of yourself impeccably."
Messi has scored seven goals in the 2026 World Cup so far, while Ronaldo has netted three for Portugal. Harry Kane (32) and Erling Haaland also exemplify this professional dedication, according to Hayes.
Messi's unique genius and leadership
Hayes highlighted Messi's evolution from a pure goalscorer to a creator. "His decision-making and execution help make him such a remarkable footballer. He’s not just a goalscorer, he’s a creator," she noted. She pointed to his free-kick against Jordan, where "everybody could see him giving the goalkeeper the eyes." Messi's ability to attract pressure and release teammates has made Argentina one of the tournament's best sides.
"He probably does the least amount of running on his team," Hayes observed, describing how Messi often plays against the flow of the game, waiting on the opposite side of the ball. "That is an exceptional quality."
Ronaldo's aerial threat and the Messi-Ronaldo debate
In contrast, Hayes described Ronaldo as "more of an imposing No 9 who can finish and is a threat aerially." She dismissed the Messi-Ronaldo debate as "silly," urging fans to appreciate both. "We have been blessed with two extraordinary players for this length of time. Pulling them apart does a disservice to them."
Hayes also praised the MLS, where Messi scored 29 goals in 28 games for Inter Miami in the 2025 regular season. She recalled taking her son Harry to see Messi play in Denver: "Messi scored, bending the ball into the top corner, my son turned and gulped at me like he’d just seen the most extraordinary thing in his life."
Tournament dynamics fueling goal records
Hayes attributed the potential record-breaking goal tally to several factors: the extra round in the expanded tournament, enthusiastic crowds, improved VAR decisions, and officials allowing more physical play. "All this is contributing to more time when the ball is in play. Couple that with some of the greatest strikers to walk the Earth showing their class and we are being spoiled," she concluded.
